Sergio stood in the doorway of the Arlington family house, a hulking silhouette framed by the setting sun. His dark brown eyes scanned the interior as Derrick led the way in, his combat boots thudding heavily on the wooden floor. His stubble-crowned lips curled into a half-grin as he spotted Cami, someone he'd heard so much about bound towards her brother like a mischievous sprite. Her smile fast dropping when she saw Sergio. Whoa, way to make a guy feel welcome.

Beside her was someone unexpected. The best friend of Derrick's little sister he'd heard about in passing conversations, a childhood friend. She was an interesting contrast to the earthy tones of the Arlington home, slender and almost ethereal in her presence.

"How's it going?" Sergio greeted the two women, the Hispanic lilt to his voice weaving through the words. Derrick had mentioned Sergio would be crashing here for a bit before heading back to his mom's place, right? It sure felt like he hadn't at this point. Sergio hadn't expected to walk into what felt like a setup and be forced into such an awkward situation. Poor Derrick, his sister was so meddlesome. He could feel the tension roll off his shoulders, a sharp contrast to the discipline and rigidity of his usual environment. Here, things were softer, warmer, alive with the possibility of comforting routine and quiet connections. He needn't be so wound up. Without missing a beat, he sauntered over to the comfy couch, dropping his duffel bag with a thud. Tattoos showed off from the lack of sleeves, a burst of exotic colors against his tan skin.